March 1, 2012

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) will sponsor walk-in registrations for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program during four Saturdays in March.

People interested in enrolling in WIC or recertifying for WIC benefits will not need appointments for the registration events. The walk-in registrations, at WIC clinics throughout the city, are set from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on:

• March 3, La Nueva Casa de Amigos Health Center, 1809 North Main
• March 10, Aldine WIC, 5198 Aldine Mail Route
• March 17, Sunnyside Health Center, 4605 Wilmington; Northside Health Center, 8504 Schuller; and Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star; and
• March 31, Airline WIC, 5990 Airline Drive, Suite 200

Participants should take identification and proof of income and address to the walk-in registration events. They should also take their children’s immunization records, if available.

HDHHS will issue electronic benefit cards for nutritious foods at the registration events to those who qualify for WIC benefits.

WIC provides nutrition education and nutritious food to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, women who have given birth in the last six months and children up to age 5 who have nutrition health-related problems. Single fathers, grandparents and foster parents are also eligible for WIC services for their children.

WIC’s goal is to reduce premature births, low birth weigh, the fetal death rate and long-term medical expenses.

Typically, WIC provides prenatal and breastfeeding support for mothers, formula for infants who are not breastfeeding and supplemental foods such as cereal, eggs, milk, juice, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and cheese for women and children. Beginning at 6 months, infants receive strained fruits, vegetables and cereal, and, if breastfed, meats are added to their diet.

A pregnant woman with an annual income of $20,147 or less and a family of four with annual income of $41,348 or less qualify for WIC benefits.

For more information about enrolling in WIC, call 832-393-5427.